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Heenan Blaikie explores business opportunities in Brazil

MONTREAL, Jan. 25 /CNW Telbec/ - Heenan Blaikie is pleased to announce
that the firm is organizing the "Brazil Initiative" in partnership with
the Canadian engineering and construction group, SNC-Lavalin, and the
Brazilian mining corporation, Vale SA.

The "Brazil Initiative" is focused on capitalizing on strategic business
opportunities in Brazil and will feature a business delegation made up
of a select team of senior business executives who will be traveling to
Brazil in mid-March 2011 with a view to establishing profitable and
lasting business relations in this country.

According to Marcel Aubut, a senior partner at Heenan Blaikie and who is
well known in the international business and sports communities, there
is now a clear window of opportunity for such an initiative. "Brazil will be hosting the 2014 FIFA World Cup of Soccer and the 2016
Summer Olympics. Each of these major world sporting events opens up new
commercial possibilities and exceptional investment opportunities for
Canadian businesses in many sectors, including infrastructure."

Vale's Deputy General Counsel and Executive Vice-President for Corporate
Affairs, Mark Travers, is delighted that his company is part of the
Brazil Initiative. "Vale is committed to growing its business in Canada and the world - and
we're committed to doing our part to ensure this initiative's success.
Brazil is one of the most dynamic countries of the Americas and our
company plays a key role in promoting economic growth throughout the
region and the world given our presence on 5 continents and in 38
countries. We believe this initiative with Heenan Blaikie and
SNC-Lavalin is a natural fit that will serve as a catalyst to deepen
existing trade relations between Brazil and Canada. We look forward to
enhancing opportunities for Canadian suppliers and service providers to
partner and grow their business with Vale, be it in Canada, Brazil or
around the world."

The Brazil Initiative has been welcomed by both the Brazilian and
Canadian governments. Heenan Blaikie, Vale and SNC-Lavalin are
particularly grateful for the support and encouragement of Export
Development Canada.

Pierre Duhaime, President and Chief Executive Officer of SNC-Lavalin
Group Inc., says he looks forward to the commercial benefits of the
Brazil Initiative. "The Brazil Initiative will bring together business leaders with a vast
network of contacts in Brazil, which will enable participating
companies to meet with various Brazilian business and government
leaders. Thanks to the Brazil Initiative, participating companies will
be able to establish long-term relationships with their Brazilian
counterparts."

Since its inception, Heenan Blaikie has grown progressively to over 550
lawyers and professionals in its nine offices in Canada, its Paris
office and Singapore representative office. The firm provides
sought-after expertise in business law, labour and employment law,
litigation, tax law, mining law, intellectual property and
entertainment law. Heenan Blaikie is the only major Canadian law firm
with a Brazilian qualified lawyer and has been working on several
different projects for Canadian companies in Brazil and for Brazilian
companies in Canada.

Vale SA is a Brazilian mining company with operations on five continents
and in 38 countries. Its Base Metals business is headquartered in
Toronto. Vale is the second largest mining company in the world, by
market capitalization and is focused on the sustainable exploration and
development of natural resources; producing and selling a wide range of
metals and mining products, including iron ore and pellets, nickel,
copper, cobalt, bauxite, aluminum, ferro-alloys and various precious
metals.

SNC-Lavalin (TSX:SNC) is one of the leading engineering and construction
groups in the world and a major player in the ownership of
infrastructure, and in the provision of operations and maintenance
services. SNC-Lavalin has offices across Canada and in over 35 other
countries around the world, and is currently working in some 100
countries.